SAN JOSE — Canadiens coach Claude Julien will make two changes to his lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center (10:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

Defenceman Joe Morrow, signed as a free agent on July 1, will take Jordie Benn’s spot on the blue line, while Torrey Mitchell will take Jacob De La Rose’s spot at centre on the fourth line.

“We needed to make a change there,” Julien said about inserting Morrow in the lineup after the team’s morning skate. “Benny’s going to take a break. He’s been fighting it a little bit, so it’s a chance for Joe to come in and do the job here for us.”

Benn was pointless and minus-1 in the first five games this season. Morrow, a 6-foot, 196-pounder, had one assist in 17 games last season with the Boston Bruins. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (23rd overall) at the 2011 NHL Draft. Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin signed the 24-year-old to a one-year, US$650,000 contract.

“I think you’re going to see a guy that when he’s playing well that he can skate the puck out of your own end and move it quickly,” Julien said about Morrow. “Good first pass. He’s a smooth skater and he’s usually pretty good when he’s on top of his game in those areas. I think we can certainly use some of that to get, I guess, our offensive game going and getting on the attack a little quicker.”

The Canadiens rank dead-last in the NHL in offence with an average of 1.40 goals per game.

When asked if making a veteran like Benn a healthy scratch might have an impact on his psyche and confidence moving forward, Julien said: “No, not at all. He’s a professional. A lot of those guys are smart individuals. They know what they’re going through and they know when they’re playing well and when they’re not playing so well. So I don’t think it’s an issue at all.”

Morrow played for Julien in Boston and said after the morning skate that played a role in his decision to sign with the Canadiens as a free agent.

“I had a good relationship with him in Boston,” Morrow said about the coach. “It definitely was something that I considered that he was here and it was a little more comfortable for me to come into this situation that I knew what he likes in a player and what kind of coaching system he enjoys. So that was a small piece, but at the same time when you get an opportunity to join an organization like the Montreal Canadiens it’s very hard to turn down. So that was a huge piece as well.”

Morrow said he found out he would be in the lineup at the beginning of the morning skate when Julien spoke with him on the ice.

“He said you’re going to slot in tonight,” Morrow said.

When asked how he would describe his own style of play, Morrow said: “I would just say a puck-moving, skating defenceman that can join the rush and bring a little bit of offence here and there. I’ve kind of gotten away from the offensive aspect of things the last couple of years to focus on maintaining a consistent defensive side of my game and I’ve grown a lot in that aspect. So just a strong-skating, puck-moving defenceman is what I can provide for this team.”

You can watch video from the Canadiens’ morning skate in San Jose on the HI/O Facebook page.

(Photo: Allen McInnis/Montreal Gazette)

Mitchell knows the way to San Jose

Mitchell, who is pointless in two games and was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, played five seasons in San Jose after being selected by the Sharks in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.

Julien was asked if that played a role in his decision to put Mitchell back in the lineup.

“I’m not big on sentimental stuff,” the coach said. “It’s a hockey decision.”

Long slump for Habs in San Jose

The last time the Canadiens won a game in San Jose was on Nov. 23, 1999 when defenceman Craig Rivet scored in overtime for a 3-2 victory. Since then, the Canadiens have an 0-8-2 record in San Jose. Last season, the Sharks beat the Canadiens 2-1 on Dec. 2 in San Jose.

What’s next?

After Tuesday’s game, the Canadiens will head to Los Angeles, where they will play the Kings Wednesday night (10:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690). The Canadiens will wrap up their three-game road trip Friday night against the Ducks in Anaheim (10 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

94 Comments

Had this window open from the “old” HIO, so let’s see if I can vent my spleen a little. As discussed in Boone’s blog last night, I’m with others in not making the jump to the evil-and-should-banned FB. ALN very light on comments, unfortunately.

Joe Morrow, a defenceman with one point in 17 games, sure sounds like the boost the offense needs. I mean, with that kind of savvy in the GM’s chair, this year’s Habs will make 1976 look like a warmup.

Larry Brooks? I dunno – If this is true though, I think the odds are better for Montreal than the others. TB and Tor both have franchise centres (yes, I’m giving Matthews that status – I’m not sure he’s earned it yet though) and I doubt JT goes anywhere to be #2.

Well I have known about hio for years, never dared enter the site till the leaf hab rivalry could once again resurrect. Now that we are past the cusp of saying game on every game we face for the foreseeable future, the site is going to Facebook only posting. Well I’m out after wendsaday as I don’t use these social sites and would rather stay anonymous. I won’t bother with a fake Facebook account. Shame things were interesting but I expect as all post sites that use facebook, you can expect the demise of the hio site. Plus expect to be charged next year.
Adios and go leafs go.

I may have lived beside ken Dryden once but now I’m in the center of the hockey universe

Wazz, welcome aboard. Know you well from the Mop & Pail comments section. As a Habs fan since Christ was a kid I’m not sure there’s much to talk about in terms of rivalry right now — Leafs are going the right way and ths Habs aren’t. However, you will find a better conversation here than on the Grope & Flail…NR & RM aren’t here.

Looking back to last season, wasn’t the bulk of Jordie Benn’s best work with both Dallas and Montreal on the right side of the third pairing, which is his off side?

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but putting him on his “natural” left side, which I seem to recall happened late last season and continued through the playoffs and into this season, doesn’t appear to be working out at all.

Maybe try him out on the right side again? What we have there already as options also shoots left-handed anyway. I kind of thought when he replaced Pateryn on the right side third pairing last year, Habs management believed they had finally found the modest stability they were looking for there.

Did he all of a sudden start stinking out the Bell Centre on the right side? I must have missed the office memo on that, because I don’t recall that particular scenario actually taking place on the ice. Was there an inter-office memo I missed on this?

Benn only played 13 games at the end of the season in a fairly easy schedule. Too small a sample size. The playoffs were more relevant IMO where he got exposed. I, and others, are not surprised now with him; just that it came so fast (thought half-way through he would have issues).

If any of you are feeling the slightest sympathy for Benn, here’s a stat for you. Hudon has FIFTEEN more hits than Benn (2 hits) who is 3rd worse on the team after Mete (1 hit) and Hemsky (0 hits in the running for the new DD golden loins award for most consecutive games without a hit).

Good news for Benn that he is not at the Centre Bell (crappy hot-dogs) so the food will probably be better at the Shark Tank.

Tavares has no desire to come to Montreal – but neither did Webs – and he seems to like it now – so maybe Carey and JT’s agent who is besties with MB can make it happen.
A trade would take Max, Gallagher and a 1st
or
Max, Juulsen and a first.

I’d do either.

Gallagher is useless in terms of winning games, but he has some value.

Very few, if any top end players have the desire to come to Montreal (via UFA). That caliber of player will have to be acquired, for the most part one of two ways: U draft em and develop (sigh), or you trade for em.

As Tavares, similar to Weber is under contract, their desire, if and when acquired is irrelevant.

After 5 games, Plekanec, Weber, Pacioretty, Petry, Danault, Byron and Galchenyuk COMBINED have 7 points. For those of you who said the Habs won the Weber for Subban trade or for others who say it was a wash, the incredible one-sided victory for Nashville will become more and more manifest with each passing year as Weber fades and Subban rises. No, I don’t expect the combined 7 to be this bad but 5 games is not insignificant.
Possibly the dumbest trade in Habs history. Right up there with Roy. Time will tell? It’s already happening.

I agree with CJ bringing it Morrow for Benn. Still, it’s scary that 2/6 starting defenders on opening night are not in the lineup and one of them is no longer on the team. You could look at this in one of two ways:
1. MB was dumb to have signed Streit in the first place
2. MB was reasonable enough to admit the Streit experiment didn’t work and decided to cut ties early and move on

Why MB continues to do these “experiments” with UFAs. Why don’t he just keep his playoff performers and keep building around them. I get PK Subban had a horrible streak before MB traded him away but so was Pacioretty.

Radulov was the only living player in last year’s playoffs and MB just couldn’t negotiate a contract with him even if he was looking for the best contract offered to him. If it had anything to do with trying to fit him under the cap, MB could’ve just bought out Plekanec.

MB was offered Weber for Subban, what he could’ve done is try to offer another package instead that ultimately end up being in the same spot but just on the side of the same trail.

Then after mess of a season ends up keep MT for another “short” season. MB always says he’ll make a move if it only helps the team move forward and history shows, he hasn’t followed his own plan.

Did Bergevin not learn his lesson last season bringing in Ott, Martinsen and King? Now this season with Streit and Hemsky?

Bergevin thinking:
“So, hey, we can’t score, I think we need Clutterbuck and Ladd! Yeah, that’s the ticket. Hmm, Didn’t I bring in Shaw to provide these things?, Hmm, can never have too many 3rd and 4th line plugs.”

He was the best skater on the ice in our monster series vs. Boston and had been a great playoff performer from that first game he was called up vs. Washington as a rookie.
He’s always been able to rise.
The way Rads rose last year.

I don’t understand Jordie Benn. When he joined the team I was impressed with his and was thinking a great addition to the team.
No question to the start of this year he’s been bad.
Wonder if them playing him on his wrong side has affected him.. a lot ?

In fairness to Benn, he prefers and usually plays the right side, and that is where he did fine as a 3rd pair player last season. Why they moved him to the left side is puzzling! Then again, Galchenyuk on the 4th line?

Did Bergevin n ot learn his lesson last season bringing in Ott, Martinsen and King?

Bergevin thinking:
“So, hey, we can’t score, I think we need Clutterbuck and Ladd! Yeah, that’s the ticket. Hmm, Didn’t I bring in Shaw to provide these things?, Hmm, can never have too many 3rd and 4th line plugs.”

Just caught a bit of Melnyck in the afternoon and from what I can gather (I missed the beginning) they are under the impression that the Habs are pursuing Andrew Ladd.
The whole crew was very negative about this due to age and contract.

That would be something alright. Ladd has an NMC, makes $5.5M until he is 37, has never topped 30 goals and hasn’t even come close in about 6 years. Why on earth they’d be interested in Ladd I have no idea. Hopefully this is all just smoke and they are really working hard on a guy like Leddy. At least he fills a need and has some mileage left.